Parents sentenced in school crossing guard attack

LANSING, Mich. (AP) — A father has been sentenced to jail and a mother to probation for an attack on a Lansing school crossing guard who tried to stop a fight involving their 7-year-old son.

The Lansing State Journal (http://bit.ly/pXpq4t) reports Darrell Livingston was sentenced Tuesday to 60 days in jail after his conviction on assault and battery charges. Shareka McKinney was acquitted of assault but convicted of contributing to the delinquency of a minor. She'll avoid jail if she completes probation.

The couple says they drove their son to a bus stop on March 31 to fight a 7-year-old bully. Crossing guard James Thompson , 73, was punched and suffered a chipped tooth when he tried to intervene. He even pulled out a small knife to defend himself.

Livingston also must pay $1,261 for Thompson's medical costs.

"This whole thing was nonsense," said 54-A District Court Judge Hugh Clarke Jr. "Between the two of you, somebody had to have some sanity."

Clarke said the incident was "another reason people don't like sending their kids to Lansing schools."

Assistant prosecutor Jeff Cruz said the case was "shocking."

Outside court, McKinney told the Lansing State Journal (http://bit.ly/pXpq4t ) that she and Livingston tried to handle the bullying because school officials weren't addressing it.